Body Organs Research Articles

S3-GHOSTNET: skin disease detection via Sand Cat Swarm Optimization deep GHOSTNET with facial images

ABSTRACT Skin is the largest organ in the human body and covers the entire body. Face skin diseases are a wide range of disorders that can affect the skin on the face. In this paper, a novel S3-GHOSTNET has been proposed to identify the face skin diseases. Initially, the input images are gathered from the Derm Net dataset and pre-processed using the Contrast stretching Adaptive Gaussian star Filter for enhancing the quality of the image. The enhanced images are fed into Modified Deep V3+ for segmenting the diseases affected region in the images. Then the segmented images are fed into deep learning-based Shuffle Net for extracting the features of the images. Finally, the required features are selected using Sand Cat Swap Optimization and using Ghost Net the Penta type of face skin diseases are classified. The proposed method achieves an accuracy rate of 99.34% in the normal classes and 98.94% in the abnormal classes. Additionally, the proposed method archives high-level Precision, Recall and F1 Scores of 98.05%, 97.73%, and 97.66% in the normal and abnormal classes. The proposed S3-GHOSTNET achieve the overall accuracy rate of 0.49%, 1.49%, 0.36% and 0.79% comparing the existing methods such as GLCN, Leaky RELU, CNN and Eff2Net, respectively.

REVEALING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BRAIN AND SKIN BY ANALYZING THEIR RESPONSES TO AUDITORY STIMULI

This study explored the relationship between brain and skin activities by investigating the contained information in electroencephalogram (EEG) and galvanic skin response (GSR) signals. Eleven subjects (4[Formula: see text]M, 7[Formula: see text]F, 18–22 years) were monitored while listening to various genres of music (relaxing, pop, and rock), while their EEG and GSR were recorded, and then we computed the Shannon entropy of recorded signals. The results revealed that rock music had the most pronounced impact on altering the information content of the signals compared to other musical genres. Additionally, a strong correlation (0.8926) was detected among the changes in contained information in both signals. This indicates a significant correlation between skin and brain activities. Importantly, this analytical approach shows potential for studying the correlation between brain activity and other bodily organs in diverse scenarios, providing insights into physiological responses under various conditions.

Effect of enzyme-probiotic preparation “Profort” on rumen microflora and reproductive function of cows

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of enzyme-probiotic feed additive “Profort” on rumen microflora and reproductive function of Holstein cows under conditions of year-round uniform feeding. The object of research were high-yielding cows (n = 40) of Holstein breed, kept loose, in conditions of yearround uniform silage-hay-concentrate type of feeding. In total, two groups of lactating cows of 20 heads in each group were formed: control group with feeding of the basic ration (OR) and experimental group OR + enzymeprobiotic feed additive “Profort” 30.0g per head per day daily, for 15 days, three times with a break of 15 days. “Profort” contains a probiotic mixture consisting of two types of bacteria: Enterococcus faecium 1–35 and Bacillus megaterium B-4801. As a result of the research it was found that the use of feed additive to animals of the experimental group contributed to an increase in the content in the rumen microbiome of cellulosolytic bacteria that activate the breakdown of plant feed fiber: Prevotellaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Clostridia UCG-014, Eubacterium, Oscillospiraceae, Hungateiclostridiaceae, Christensenellaceae and Ruminococcaceae, as well as lactate-utilizing bacteria, preventing the decrease in pH of the rumen environment, reproduction and colonization of opportunistic and pathogenic microflora in other organs of the animal body, including the reproductive system. The cows of the experimental group have improved reproductive ability indicators: fertilizability, decreased duration of service period, labor and postpartum complications. The number of calves obtained in the state of physiological maturity (normotrophy) increases.

Repurposing Mitochondria-Targeted Therapeutics for Kidney Diseases.

The kidney is one of the most metabolically demanding organs in the human body and requires a large amount of energy, in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), to perform and maintain normal renal functions. To meet this energy demand, proximal tubule cells within the nephron segments of the renal cortex are mitochondrially dense with high oxygen consumption rates. Mitochondria are complex organelles involved in diverse cellular and molecular functions, including the production of ATP, calcium homeostasis, and phospholipid regulation. Mitochondrial dysfunction is critical in the onset and progression of kidney disease. Dysfunctional renal mitochondria have been linked with alterations in redox homeostasis, impaired bioenergetics, oxidative stress, and inflammation, all of which result in renal cell injury and death, as well as fibrotic accumulation in kidney injury and disease. As such, interest in the development and/or repurposing of mitochondria-targeted therapeutics for the potential treatment of kidney diseases has recently surged. While novel therapeutics and promising new drug targets have been identified, drug repurposing for kidney diseases offers numerous advantages over traditional drug discovery initiatives, including reduced cost, time of therapeutic development, and preclinical testing, in addition to known pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics and safety profiles. Here, we provide an overview of mitochondrial dysfunction in the context of kidney injury and disease and shed light on promising mitochondria-targeted therapeutic agents that display repurposing potential for the restoration of renal function and/or acceleration of renal recovery.

Gossypin Ameliorates Collagen-Induced Arthritic Rats by Inhibiting Angiogenesis, Inflammation and Oxidative Stress.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term inflammatory autoimmune disease that damages cartilage and synovial membranes while also affecting bones and joints. The aim of the current study was to investigate the antiarthritic effect of gossypin against collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rats. Intraperitoneal administration of Type II collagen (2 mg/mL) was used to induce arthritis in the rats, followed by oral administration of gossypin (5, 10 and 15 mg/kg) for 28 days. Various parameters were assessed, including body weight, paw swelling, arthritis score, organ weights, RF, haematological parameters, inflammatory markers, MMP levels, antioxidants, cytokines and nonhepatic and hepatic liver parameters. Additionally, the expression of various mRNAs was analysed. Gossypin significantly (p < 0.001) altered the body weight, paw swelling, arthritis score and organ weights along with RF level. Gossypin treatment significantly (p < 0.001) altered the level of antioxidant and hepatic parameters; inflammatory cytokines; and inflammatory parameters such as PGE2, COX-2, NF-κB and VEGF, respectively. Gossypin also enhanced the level of HO-1 and Nrf2 and suppressed the level of MMP parameters such as MMP-2, MMP-3 and MMP-9. Gossypin also modified the mRNA expression of MMP-3, MMP-9, TRAP, RANK, Ctsk and RANKL, respectively. Gossypin demonstrated antiarthritic effects against CIA in rats.

The Body of Chagas Disease Vectors.

Morphometry is an effort to describe or measure the morphology of the body, or parts of it. It also provides quantitative data on the interactions of living organisms with their environment, external or internal. As a discipline, morphometrics has undergone significant developments in the last decade, making its implementation more visual and less laborious. Chagas disease vectors, often referred to by the common name of "kissing bugs", belong to the subfamily Triatominae. Due to their apparent morphological plasticity, they have been the subject of numerous morphometric studies. Most of these have been applied taking into account the particularities of this group of vectors, such as domesticity (synanthropy), food preferences, dispersal ability, insecticide resistance, as well as some taxonomic issues. This brief review over nearly three decades is organized here according to the body organs considered by the authors.

Advances in Drug Targeting, Drug Delivery, and Nanotechnology Applications: Therapeutic Significance in Cancer Treatment.

In the 21st century, thanks to advances in biotechnology and developing pharmaceutical technology, significant progress is being made in effective drug design. Drug targeting aims to ensure that the drug acts only in the pathological area; it is defined as the ability to accumulate selectively and quantitatively in the target tissue or organ, regardless of the chemical structure of the active drug substance and the method of administration. With drug targeting, conventional, biotechnological and gene-derived drugs target the body's organs, tissues, and cells that can be selectively transported to specific regions. These systems serve as drug carriers and regulate the timing of release. Despite having many advantageous features, these systems have limitations in thoroughly treating complex diseases such as cancer. Therefore, combining these systems with nanoparticle technologies is imperative to treat cancer at both local and systemic levels effectively. The nanocarrier-based drug delivery method involves encapsulating target-specific drug molecules into polymeric or vesicular systems. Various drug delivery systems (DDS) were investigated and discussed in this review article. The first part discussed active and passive delivery systems, hydrogels, thermoplastics, microdevices and transdermal-based drug delivery systems. The second part discussed drug carrier systems in nanobiotechnology (carbon nanotubes, nanoparticles, coated, pegylated, solid lipid nanoparticles and smart polymeric nanogels). In the third part, drug targeting advantages were discussed, and finally, market research of commercial drugs used in cancer nanotechnological approaches was included.

Comparing some the Tripartite Consequences of Leisure-Recreational Sports among Selected University Students in Iran and Iraq

The purpose of this study was to compare the triple consequences of recreational sports among selected Iranian and Iraqi university students. and then thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. In the quantitative part, the Kendall W and independent t-tests were used. Based on the findings of the qualitative part, out of a total of 202 identified basic themes, 43 themes constituted physical outcomes, including the development of individual skills and abilities, reduction of injuries and illnesses, physical vitality, and contribution to the proper functioning of body organs; 75 themes constituted psycho-emotional outcomes, including individual growth, moral-behavioral development, emotional-trait development, and life development; and 84 themes constituted social outcomes, including social growth, communication development, improvement of social status, and social life development. In the quantitative part, it was also found that there is a significant priority between the triple consequences of recreational sports from the perspective of Iraqi and Iranian students, so that "psycho-emotional outcomes" from the perspective of Iraqi students and "physical outcomes" from the perspective of Iranian students were the first priority. Also, it was found that there is a significant difference between the triple consequences in the two groups of students, and this difference in all cases is higher in favor of Iraqi students.

“The Brain is…”: A Survey of the Brain’s Many Definitions

A reader of the peer-reviewed neuroscience literature will often encounter expressions like the following: ‘the brain is a dynamic system’, ‘the brain is a complex network’, or ‘the brain is a highly metabolic organ’. These expressions attempt to define the essential functions and properties of the mammalian or human brain in a simple phrase or sentence, sometimes using metaphors or analogies. We sought to survey the most common phrases of the form ‘the brain is…’ in the biomedical literature to provide insights into current conceptualizations of the brain. Utilizing text analytic tools applied to a large sample (> 4 million) of peer-reviewed full-text articles and abstracts, we extracted several thousand phrases of the form ‘the brain is…’ and identified over a dozen frequently appearing phrases. The most used phrases included metaphors (e.g., the brain as a ‘information processor’ or ‘prediction machine’) and descriptions of essential functions (e.g., ‘a central organ of stress adaptation’) or properties (e.g., ‘a highly vascularized organ’). Comparison of these phrases with those involving other bodily organs (e.g. the heart, liver, etc.) highlighted common phrases between the brain and other organs, such as the heart as a ‘complex, dynamic system’. However, the brain was unique among organs in the number and diversity of analogies ascribed to it. The results of our analysis underscore the diversity of qualities and functions attributed to the brain in the biomedical literature and suggest a range of conceptualizations that defy unification.

Regulation of TGF-β1, PI3K/PIP3/Akt, Nrf-2/Keap-1 and NF-κB signaling pathways to avert bifenthrin induced hepatic injury: A palliative role of daidzein.

Bifenthrin (BFN) is a noxious insecticide which is reported to damage various body organs. Daidzein (DZN) is a natural flavone with excellent pharmacological properties. This research was conducted to evaluate the alleviative strength of DZN to counteract BFN prompted liver toxicity in male albino rats. Thirty-two rats were divided into 4 groups i.e., the control, BFN (7 mg /kg), BFN (7 mg/kg) + DZN (20 mg/kg) and DZN (20 mg/kg) alone group. The biochemical assessment was performed by using qRT PCR as well as standard ELISA protocols. The findings are validated by applying pharmacodynamic techniques including molecular simulation. It was observed that BFN reduced the gene expressions of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), phosphatidylinositol-3, 4, 5-triphosphate (PIP3), Protein kinase B (Akt), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2) while promoting the gene expressions of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap-1). Moreover, BFN notably reduced the activities of glutathione reductase (GSR), heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) while elevating the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA). BFN promoted the levels of matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP-2), Procollagen III N-terminal Pro-peptide (PIIINP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), transforming growth factor-beta-1 (TGF-β1), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP1), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). The levels of nuclear factor- kappa B (NF-κB), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were increased following the BFN intoxication. BFN enhanced the expressions of cysteine-aspartic acid protease-3 (Caspase-3) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) while suppressing the gene expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2). Moreover, BFN disrupted the normal histology of liver tissues. Nonetheless, DZN treatment remarkably alleviated hepatic damages owing to its antioxidative, anti-apoptotic as well as anti-inflammatory abilities. However, DZN supplementation remarkably safeguarded which is further confirmed by in-silico assessment.

AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF SWITRA ROGA: A CASE STUDY

Skin is the largest organ of the human body. Skin complaints affect people of all ages, from the neonate to the elderly, and cause harm in several ways, such as discomfort, disfigurement, disability and even death. The condition can lead to a decline in quality of life and self-esteem as it tarnishes the beauty of the human body. Vitiligo is a common autoimmune pigmentary disorder of great socio-medical importance. It is characterised by white spots appearing on the skin due to melanocyte deficiency. Vitiligo is a condition presenting with whitish discolouration of the skin. It is an acquired condition in which circumscribed de-pigmented patches can be seen. The destruction of melanocytes, pigment-forming cells, causes a lack of melanin and colouring pigment, which leads to this condition. It affects 1-2% of the population worldwide. Onset is usually in childhood, and females are mostly affected. In Ayurveda, the science of life, the " Shwitra " disease can be correlated to vitiligo. The present study aims to evaluate the action of Ayurvedic medications on Shwitra roga. Due to side effects and limitations of contemporary science, some harmless and effective medicines are expected from Alternative medical sciences. Ayurveda has excellent potential to treat such autoimmune skin diseases. Here, a case of acute vitiligo treated with Ayurvedic management is recorded. Here, I am presenting a case of 26 a 26-year-old girl who came to OPD with c/o white patches over the left side behind the neck region, and a notable improvement in the condition has been observed in this case.

Fluoride-Induced Autophagy and Apoptosis in the Mouse Ovary: Genomic Insights into IL-17 Signaling and Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis.

Chronic fluoride (F) exposure is linked to gonadotoxicity in females, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated fluoride-induced reprotoxicity using advanced genomic profiling. RNA-seq analysis identified significant activation of autophagy, apoptosis, and IL-17 signaling pathways in fluoride-exposed female mice. To explore these mechanisms, F0 pregnant mice were exposed to deionized water (control) or 100 mg/L sodium fluoride (NaF) during gestation and throughout the F1 generation (n = 16 females/group), covering puberty to weaning and maturity. NaF exposure caused significant reductions in body weight, organ coefficients, and pathological indices, with increased ovarian autophagic vacuoles, mitochondrial injuries, and elevated serum/ovary LPS levels in F1 females. qRT-PCR, fluorescent staining, biochemical assays, and Western blotting confirmed the activation of IL-17 signaling, apoptosis, and autophagy. Moreover, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed gut microbiota dysbiosis in NaF-exposed F1 females, potentially exacerbating ovary injury via serum LPS elevation. The gut dysbiosis could justify deteriorated serum LPS levels and its connection to F-induced ovary injury. These findings provide mechanistic insights into fluoride-induced reprotoxicity, emphasizing the interplay of IL-17 signaling, autophagy, and apoptosis in disrupting cellular homeostasis and suggesting potential therapeutic targets.

Clinically Deployable Electro-Immunosensing Device Comprising Bioactive Glass-MWCNT for Alkaline Phosphatase Detection in Human Serum Samples.

Bone is a dynamic tissue that serves several purposes in the human body, including storing calcium, forming blood cells, and protecting and supporting the body's organs. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is secreted into the circulation by osteoblasts, the cells responsible for making bone. It attaches to the surface of osteoblast cells or matrix vesicles. Accordingly, ALP is present in serum and is a popular biomarker for the evaluation of bone disease and other disorders in clinical evaluations. In this study, a composite probe made of bioactive glass (BG) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) was used to detect ALP through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) without the need for labels. By combination of physical methods with electrochemical analysis, the biosensor probe was characterized. The analytical performance of the biosensor was evaluated using EIS, and the results revealed that it has a limit of detection (LOD) of 2.29 ± 0.35 U/L and a linear dynamic range (LDR) of 25-600 U/L; both of which are within the acceptable range for ALP detection in clinics. When tested against serum interfering chemicals, the biosensor probe that was designed shows a strong selectivity for ALP (Ksel < 0.06). In addition, human serum and fetal bovine serum were used to test the system's ability to detect ALP in biological samples.

Acute Flaccid Quadriparesis as an Uncommon Initial Presentation of SLE: A Case Report and Literature Review

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune, multisystem disorder that has a high morbidity and mortality rate involving millions of people worldwide. It has a diverse presentation due to its ability to affect almost all body organs. Here we present a case of a 22-year-old female who presented to us with acute flaccid quadriparesis. Subsequently, there was 6th cranial nerve palsy, proximal muscle weakness, joint stiffness, and proteinuria. Laboratory investigations show positive ANA, Anti-ds-DNA, and Anti Sm Ab. She was diagnosed as a case of SLE and was treated with IV Methylprednisolone. After getting the treatment her symptoms were improved.

Future Prospects and Regulatory Pathways for Invasome Technologies in Transdermal Drug Delivery.

Skin is one of the largest organs in the human body. It acts as an outer protective cover and comprises the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. Liposomes are formed by phospholipids and have a vesicular character that improves the encapsulation of lipophilic, hydrophilic, and amphiphilic drugs. The invasome structure is flexible as opposed to regular liposomes; this is due to the presence of ethanol and terpene that increases lipid fluidity in the vesicle structure. Terpenes, ethanol, or terpene mixes are potential carriers that invasomes' tiny liposomal vesicles used to improve skin penetration. Terpenes that are primarily derived from natural sources are the most efficient and secure kind of penetration enhancers (PEs). There are some methods for the preparation of invasomes, but mostly the techniques used for the preparation of invasomes are mechanical dispersion and film hydration methods. Although PEs are effective when applied topically, only a small number are clinically approved due to concerns about skin irritation and toxicity. Invasomes exhibit a higher rate of skin penetration than liposomes and ethosomes. This review examines the structure, components, preparation methods, and applications of invasomes in pharmaceutical formulations, focusing on their potential to treat skin disorders and improve therapeutic outcomes. The primary objective is to assess the future potential of invasome technologies in transdermal drug delivery, alongside an exploration of the regulatory challenges and pathways for their development and approval. Graphical abstract illustrating the composition, mechanism of action, and therapeutic applications of invasomes in transdermal drug delivery systems.

Abdominal Ultrasonography in Healthy Female Standard Donkeys.

Knowledge of the normal ultrasound anatomy in the donkey is essential to understand pathological changes and to reach an early diagnosis, considering the "dullness" and stoicism of these animals in pain manifestations. The aims of this study were to document which abdominal viscera could be identified using a transcutaneous ultrasonography technique under field conditions in unsedated, standing donkeys to determine where the different abdominal structures could be easily displayed and to describe any variation that occurred between different donkeys and horses. In this work, the manual technique for performing an ultrasound of the abdominal organs in a donkey is described, including acoustic windows. In addition, several measurements were performed and correlated with the age and weight of the animal to find possible variations. For several of the abdominal viscera, donkeys were found to have similarities with horses, but some differences were found, mostly related to kidney size and the technique for liver visualization. The wall thickness of the colon was confirmed as higher compared to horses, while other intestinal tracts were found to be comparable. A correlation between body weight and organ measurements was only found for the length of both kidneys.

Recent Advancements in Localization Technologies for Wireless Capsule Endoscopy: A Technical Review.

Conventional endoscopy is limited in its ability to examine the small bowel and perform long-term monitoring due to the risk of infection and tissue perforation. Wireless Capsule Endoscopy (WCE) is a painless and non-invasive method of examining the body's internal organs using a small camera that is swallowed like a pill. The existing active locomotion technologies do not have a practical localization system to control the capsule's movement within the body. A robust localization system is essential for safely guiding the WCE device through the complex gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Moreover, having access to the capsule's trajectory data is highly desirable for drug delivery and surgery, as well as for creating accurate user profiles for diagnosis and future reference. Therefore, a robust, real-time, and practical localization system is imperative to advance the field of WCE and make it desirable for clinical trials. In this work, we have identified salient features of different localization techniques and categorized studies in comprehensive tables. This study is self-contained as it offers a comprehensive overview of emerging localization techniques based on magnetic field, radio frequency (RF), video, and hybrid methods. A summary at the end of each method is provided to point out the potential gaps and give directions for future research. The main point of this work is to present an in-depth review of the most recent localization techniques published in the past five years. This will assist researchers in comprehending current techniques and pinpointing potential areas for further investigation. This review can be a significant reference and guide for future research on WCE localization.

Iron-Mediated Regulation in Adipose Tissue: A Comprehensive Review of Metabolism and Physiological Effects.

Review the latest data regarding the intersectionof adipose tissue (AT) and iron to meet the needs of AT metabolism and the progression of related diseases. Iron is involved in fundamental biological metabolic processes and is precisely fine-tuned within the body to maintain cellular, tissue and even systemic iron homeostasis. AT not only serves as an energy storage depot but also represents the largest endocrine organ in the human body, maintaining systemic metabolic homeostasis. It is involved in physiological processes such as energy storage, insulin sensitivity regulation and lipid metabolism. As a unique iron-sensing tissue, AT expresses related regulatory factors, including the classic hepcidin, ferroportin (FPN), iron regulatory protein/iron responsive element (IRP/IRE) and ferritin. Consequently, the interaction between AT and iron is intricately intertwined. Imbalance of iron homeostasis produces the potential risks of steatosis, impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance, leading to AT dysfunction diseases, including obesity, type 2 diabetes and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Despite the role of AT iron has garnered increasing attention in recent years, a comprehensive review that systematically organizes the connection between iron and AT remains lacking. Given the necessity of iron homeostasis, emphasizing its potential impact on AT function and metabolism regulation provides valuable insights into physiological effects such as adipocyte differentiation and thermogenesis. Futhermore, regulators including adipokines, mitochondria and macrophages have been mentioned, along with analyzing the novel perspective of iron as a key mediator influencing the fat-gut crosstalk.

A large reverse-genetic screen identifies numerous regulators of testis nascent myotube collective cell migration and collective organ sculpting.

Collective cell migration is critical for morphogenesis, homeostasis, and wound healing. Migrating mesenchymal cells form tissues that shape the body's organs. We developed a powerful model, exploring how Drosophila nascent myotubes migrate onto the testis during pupal development, forming the muscles ensheathing it and creating its characteristic spiral shape. To define genes regulating this, we used RNAseq to identify genes expressed in myotubes during migration. Using this dataset, we curated a list of 131 ligands, receptors, and cytoskeletal regulators, including all Rho/Ras/Rap1 regulators, as candidates. We then expressed 279 shRNAs targeting these genes and examined adult testes. We identified 29 genes with diverse roles in morphogenesis. Some have phenotypes consistent with defective migration, while others alter testis shape in different ways, revealing the underlying logic of testis morphogenesis. We followed up the Rho-family GEF dPix in detail. dPix knockdown drastically reduced migration and thus muscle coverage. Our data suggest different isoforms of dPix play distinct roles in this process and reveal a role for its partner Git. We also explored whether dPix regulates Cdc42 activity or cell adhesion. Our RNAseq dataset and genetic analysis provide an important resource for the community to explore cell migration and organ morphogenesis.

Anti-hyperuricemic effects of the seeds of Hovenia acerba in hyperuricemia mice

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe seeds of Hovenia acerba water extract (HAW) are used as an edible traditional Chinese medicine to treat diseases related to hyperuricemia (HUA). Aim of the studyTo evaluate HAW for its anti-HUA effect and to figure out their underlying mechanisms. Materials and methodsThe anti-HUA effects were evaluated on a mouse model by testing HAW’s effects on the levels of serum uric acid (SUA), the biochemical indicators of liver and kidney function, and the histology of liver and kidney. Body weight and organ coefficients were determined for safety evaluation. RT-qPCR, Western blot and transcriptomic analysis was applied to investigate key mRNAs, proteins and signaling pathways. ResultsHAW significantly reduced the serum levels of UA, ALT, AST, and xanthine oxidase (XOD) and histologically alleviated the liver damage in HUA mice with no negative effect on body weight and organ coefficients. HAW markedly inhibited hepatic XOD activity and protein expression, significantly down-regulated mRNA and protein expressions of urate transporter 1 (URAT1) and glucose transporter 9 (GLUT9), and up-regulated those of ATP transporter G2 (ABCG2) and renal organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1). RNA-seq analysis showed that 248 HUA-induced differential expression genes (DEGs) were reversed by HAW in the kidney. qRT-PCR analysis showed that regulation of the expressions of HUA-related inflammatory genes were involved. ConclusionHAW possessed remarkable anti-HUA effect. The mechanism involved XOD inhibition to reduce uric acid production, up-regulation of ABCG2 and OAT1 to increase uric acid excretion, and down-regulation of GLUT9 and URAT1 to inhibit uric acid reabsorption, and regulation of HUA-related inflammatory genes.